How Independent are Vaccine Defenders?

How Independent Are Vaccine Defenders?
Sharyl Attkisson Investigates Vaccine Advocates Taking Funding From The
Companies Whose Vaccines They Endorse


Pediatrician, Vaccine Scrutiny
Government officials and some scientists say there's no link between
vaccines and autism ? And they're often backed by independent experts. But
how "independent" are they? Sharyl Attkisson reports.
(CBS) For years some parents and scientists have raised concerns about
vaccine safety, including a possible link to autism and ADD. Many
independent experts have sided with government officials and other
scientists who say there's no possible connection. But how "independent" are
they? CBS News investigative correspondent Sharyl Attkisson shares here's
what she found.




They're some of the most trusted voices in the defense of vaccine safety:
the American Academy of Pediatrics, Every Child By Two, and pediatrician Dr.
Paul Offit.

But CBS News has found these three have something more in common - strong
financial ties to the industry whose products they promote and defend.

The vaccine industry gives millions to the Academy of Pediatrics for
conferences, grants, medical education classes and even helped build their
headquarters. The totals are kept secret, but public documents reveal bits
and pieces.


A $342,000 payment from Wyeth, maker of the pneumococcal vaccine - which
makes $2 billion a year in sales.

A $433,000 contribution from Merck, the same year the academy endorsed Merck
s HPV vaccine - which made $1.5 billion a year in sales.

Another top donor: Sanofi Aventis, maker of 17 vaccines and a new
five-in-one combo shot just added to the childhood vaccine schedule last
month.

Every Child By Two, a group that promotes early immunization for all
children, admits the group takes money from the vaccine industry, too - but
wouldn't tell us how much.

A spokesman told CBS News: "There are simply no conflicts to be unearthed."
But guess who's listed as the group's treasurers? Officials from Wyeth and a
paid advisor to big pharmaceutical clients.

Then there's Paul Offit, perhaps the most widely-quoted defender of vaccine
safety.

He's gone so far as to say babies can tolerate "10,000 vaccines at once."

This is how Offit described himself in a previous interview: "I'm the chief
of infectious disease at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and a professor
of pediatrics at Penn's medical school," he said.

Offit was not willing to be interviewed on this subject but like others in
this CBS News investigation, he has strong industry ties. In fact, he's a
vaccine industry insider.

Offit holds in a $1.5 million dollar research chair at Children's Hospital,
funded by Merck. He holds the patent on an anti-diarrhea vaccine he
developed with Merck, Rotateq, which has prevented thousands of
hospitalizations.

And future royalties for the vaccine were just sold for $182 million cash.
Dr. Offit's share of vaccine profits? Unknown.

There's nothing illegal about the financial relationships, but to critics,
they pose a serious risk for conflicts of interest. As one member of
Congress put it, money from the pharmaceutical industry can shape the
practices of those who hold themselves out to be "independent. "

The American Academy of Pediatrics, Every Child By Two and Dr. Offit would
not agree to interviews, but all told us they're up front about the money
they receive, and it doesn't sway their opinions.

Today's immunization schedule now calls for kids to get 55 doses of vaccines
by age 6.

Ideally, it makes for a healthier society. But critics worry that industry
ties could impact the advice given to the public about all those vaccines. Article on the Web